| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Bapaume Cambrai Area, Bullecourt |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/06715 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Leather, Nickel-plated brass |
| Maker |
J Hudson & Co |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, West Midlands, Birmingham |
| Date made | c 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Acme Thunderer General Service whistle : Corporal C C Paterson, 10 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
Description
Nickle plated brass escargot style general service pea whistle with cork ball and integral suspension loop. The title 'The Acme Thunderer Made in England' is cast into the upper mouthpiece. Supplied with, but not attached to, a plaited leather lanyard.
History / Summary
General service whistle issued to 3802 Gunner Colin Campbell Paterson born Parattah, Tasmania. A labourer of Glenorchy, Tasmania, Paterson was aged 19 ½ when he enlisted at Claremont on 30 November 1914.
Paterson was initially assigned to the third Reinforcements for 1 Divisional Artillery Column and embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT Hymettus which left Sydney on 8 February 1915. After training in Egypt he landed at Gallipoli on 14 July. Paterson was transferred to 3 Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) on 6 September; he was attached to 8 Battery, Anti Aircraft Section on 16 October. On 6 November he was transferred to 9 Battery. Returning to Egypt after the evacuation from Gallipoli, Paterson was taken on strength of 24 FAB, 110 Battery on 23 March 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir; three days later he was made acting bombardier and on 20 April he was confirmed in the rank of bombardier. He transferred to France with the AIF in June.
On 25 January 1917 Paterson was transferred to 10 FAB and posted to 38 Battery. He was killed in action on 16 April 1917 near Ecoust during the artillery's support for the Battle of Bullecourt and was buried 'at right of road, Ecoust-Vrancourt 57 c.N.W. Square E7 d.9.6' His effects were returned aboard the transport Euripides and delivered to father on 12 December 1917 - among the items were this and a second general service whistle. His body was exhumed in April 1923 and transferred to the H.A.C. British Cemetery at Ecoust St Mein, Plot 3 Row C Grave 30 - 8 kilometres NNE of Bapaume. His grave is engraved 'Remembered with honour'.
Paterson's younger brother Stanley Duncan Paterson enlisted on 3 October 1914 with 3rd Field Company Australian Engineers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 19 May 1915, aged 18.
As a corporal in an artillery unit, Paterson would have used his whistle in action as an aid to fire and control during fire missions; this was especially relevant during the noise produced during an artillery barrage.